Co. Governor Sued for Shoveling Tax Money to Planned Parenthood

Washington, D.C. (30 October 2008) – A Colorado taxpayer is suing Gov. Bill Ritter for authorizing illegal state payments totaling $18 million for two abortion-providing companies, including a Planned Parenthood affiliate.

"We hope this lawsuit brings this case to justice," said Jim Sedlak, vice president of American Life League, "Coloradoans don't want blood on their hands. They don't want their hard-earned tax dollars feeding the trough of an organization gorging on abortion blood money."

Under the 1984 Abortion Funding Prohibition amendment to the Colorado Constitution, direct or indirect public funding of abortion is illegal in Colorado.

Colorado taxpayer Mark Hotaling, represented by an Alliance Defense Fund-affiliated attorney, alleges the state of Colorado, under Gov. Ritter and James Martin, the director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, awarded five funding contracts to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and Boulder Valley Women's Health Center. Both organizations provide abortions, and their funding is in direct violation of the 1984 amendment.

According to the Alliance Defense Fund, the lawsuit asks the court to cancel the $18 million in illegal state contracts, declare that the contracts violate the Colorado Constitution and prohibit the Colorado Department of Health from awarding further contracts to the two abortion providers.

"The abortion industry apparently has strong friends in Colorado," said Sedlak, "but we're confident the will of the people will overcome, and that no more money will be showered on the abortion-mongering industry."

American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to death. For more information or media inquiries, please contact Katie Walker at 540.659.4942.